De-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

Exhaust from a hand-held vacuum cleaner is directed rearwardly away from its dust bowl nozzle end through rearwardly disposed exhaust ports providing foreign matter pickup at its nozzle end in a manner not disturbed by exhaust turbulence.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/553,139, entitled Dual Filter Wet/Dry Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner, filed Apr. 19, 2000, incorporated herein by reference, and is related to co-pending United States utility patent application entitled Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner with Interchangeable Control Panel Module, filed on even date herewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is drawn to the field of vacuum cleaners, and more particularly, to a novel de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Hand-held vacuum cleaners are commonly employed to pick up dirt and/or liquid spillage.

[0004] The heretofore known wet and/or dry hand-held vacuum cleaners typically include a powered unit having side exhausts, to which a dust bowl terminating in a nozzle end is removably attached. Foreign matter to be removed, usually dirt and/or liquids, is drawn into their nozzle ends, and an exhaust stream, from which the foreign matter has been separated, is typically discharged out the side exhausts of their powered units.

[0005] However, the turbulence that is generated at the side exhausts of the heretofore known wet and/or dry hand-held vacuum cleaners has adversely impacted their cleaning efficiency. Some components of the laterally discharged exhaust streams impact, and undesirably move, the foreign matter to be removed. The heavier parts of the foreign matter that remain on the surface to be cleaned are moved away from the nozzle ends, necessitating additional pick-up steps, while the lighter parts thereof are moved into the surrounding air. Not only is such airborne dust, allergens and the like uncomfortable to breathe, if not unhealthy, but it also tends to be deposited over an area wider than the original spillage area, as the airborne foreign matter disperses and finally settles, which necessitates further laborious pick-up steps.

[0006] There is thus a need for a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to disclose a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to disclose a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed.

[0009] In accordance therewith, the disclosed de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner of the present invention that does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed includes a dust bowl terminating in a nozzle end; and a powered unit adapted to mate with the dust bowl and cooperative therewith to draw air thereinthrough and discharge the same out of the powered unit as an exhaust stream that is so directed that it does not turbulently move foreign matter at the nozzle end of the dust bowl before it is removed thereby. In the presently preferred embodiment, the powered unit has a suction face at its front end in fluid communication with an exhaust vent at its rear end adapted to direct the exhaust stream longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit where it does not turbulently interfere with foreign matter removal at the nozzle end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by referring to the following slowly exemplary detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, and to the drawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the operation of an exemplary prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner;

[0012]FIG. 1B is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the principles of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accord with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the presently preferred embodiment of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accord with the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is a partially broken-away perspective view of the powered unit of the presently preferred embodiment of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accord with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1A, generally designated at 10 is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the operation of an exemplary prior art hand-held vacuum cleaner.

[0016] Hand-held vacuum cleaner generally designated 12 includes a dust bowl 14 removably attached to a powered unit 16. The powered unit 16 includes side exhausts 18 and a handle 20.

[0017] In operation, the hand-held vacuum cleaner 12 is grasped by handle 20, and manipulated to bring its dust bowl 14 in position to remove foreign matter 22. As it picks up the foreign matter 22, it produces exhaust jets schematically illustrated by arrow 24 laterally directed out of the side exhausts 18.

[0018] The laterally directed side exhaust jets 24 have force components schematically illustrated by arrow 26 that impact the foreign matter 22. Heavier components of the material 22 to be removed are moved thereby about the surface to be cleaned, as schematically illustrated by crossed arrows generally designated 28, while any lighter components thereof are moved thereby into the air, as schematically illustrated by curled arrow 30.

[0019] The turbulent displacement 28 of the foreign matter 22 requires additional, undesirable steps to pick it up from the surface where it has been moved, which is likewise subject to undesirable dispersal, while the turbulent displacement 30 of the foreign matter into the air gives rise not only to airborne dust, allergens and the like that are uncomfortable if not unhealthy to breathe, but also the airborne material tends to be deposited over an area wider than the original spillage area as the airborne foreign matter disperses and finally settles, further necessitating undesirable additional pick-up steps.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1B, generally designated at 40 is a pictorial diagram useful in explaining the principles of a de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner in accordance with the present invention. De-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner generally designated 42 includes dust bowl 44 removably attached to powered unit 46 having a handle 48, and an exhaust 50 adapted to discharge an exhaust stream so directed that it does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed.

[0021] In operation, the de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner 42 is grasped by handle 48 and manipulated to bring its dust bowl 44 in position to remove foreign matter 52. As it picks up the foreign matter 52, it produces an exhaust stream schematically illustrated by arrow 54 which in the presently preferred embodiment is directed longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit 46. The longitudinally rearwardly directed exhaust stream 54 has no force components sufficient to turbulently move the foreign matter 52 prior to its removal, allowing for efficient foreign matter pickup without producing the undesirable airborne dirt and allergen clouds, and the undesirable additional pickup steps, of the heretofore known hand-held vacuum cleaners. Although the presently preferred embodiment includes an exhaust vent located at the rear of the powered unit 46 adapted to discharge an exhaust stream directed longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit, any exhaust so located and/or arranged as to direct one or more exhaust streams having no force components sufficient to turbulently move a substantial amount of foreign matter before it is removed may be employed without departing from the inventive concepts.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, generally designated at 60 is a longitudinal section of a presently preferred embodiment of the de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner of the present invention. The de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner 60 includes a dust bowl 62 that is removably attached to a powered unit generally designated 64. The dust bowl 62 may be provided with a liquid separator to allow for wet/dry operation, not shown. One or more filters, not shown, may be provided intermediate the dust bowl and powered unit to separate particulates received through the inlet nozzle of the dust bowl. The principles of the present invention apply to a wide range of de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaners, which may be wet and/or dry and have one or more filters. Any such arrangements in a hand-held vacuum cleaner to provide filtration and solid and/or liquid pickup, which are not further described herein, are contemplated.

[0023] The powered unit 64 includes a housing generally designated 66 that provides a handle 72. A vacuum impeller assembly 74 is mounted in the housing 66 to provide suction. An interchangeable control panel module generally designated 76 including a power switch 78 is mounted in the housing 66 along its top, with the power switch 78 in position to be manually actuated when the handle 72 is grasped. Although the power switch 78 is provided on the interchangeable control panel module 76, it will be appreciated that other means to mount the power switch, and/or other features, to the housing could be employed.

[0024] A battery shown in dashed outline 80 is mounted in the housing 66 that is operatively connected to the vacuum impeller assembly 74 and interchangeable control panel module 76. An exhaust vent 82 is provided at the rear of the housing 66 in fluid communication with the vacuum impeller assembly 74. In the preferred embodiment as best seen in FIG. 3, the housing 66 and battery 80 are dimensioned and so arranged as to provide an open flow passageway generally designated 100 between the distal end of the vacuum impeller assembly 74 and exhaust vent 82, although any other means to provide fluid communication therebetween could be employed in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] In operation, the vacuum impeller assembly 74 draws air into the dust bowl 62 as schematically illustrated by arrows 84 and moves it through the housing 66 and out the exhaust vents 82 as schematically illustrated by arrow marked 86. The thereby produced longitudinally rearwardly directed exhaust jet schematically illustrated by arrow marked 88, which has no force components sufficient to impact foreign matter to be removed at its dust bowl nozzle end, therewith allows foreign matter to be picked up in a manner that is unaffected by exhaust jet turbulence.

[0026] Many modifications of the presently disclosed invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed, comprising: a dust bowl adapted to mate with a powered unit terminating in a nozzle end adapted to remove foreign matter; and a powered unit including a battery and a vacuum impeller assembly mounted therewithin that is adapted to mate with the dust bowl and is cooperative therewith to draw air into the nozzle end of the dust bowl through the vacuum impeller assembly and discharge the same out of the powered unit as an exhaust stream that is so directed that it does not turbulently move foreign matter at the nozzle end of the dust bowl before it is removed thereby.
 2. The de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed of claim 1 , wherein said powered unit has a suction face at its front end in fluid communication with an exhaust vent at its rear end adapted to direct the exhaust stream longitudinally rearwardly of the powered unit where it does not turbulently interfere with foreign matter removal at the nozzle end.
 3. The de-turbulent hand-held vacuum cleaner that does not turbulently move foreign matter before it is removed of claim 2 , wherein the powered unit includes a housing in which the vacuum impeller assembly and battery are so mounted and arranged that the housing and battery provide an open flow passageway connecting the rear exhaust vent and vacuum impeller assembly in fluid communication. 